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Design thinking has become as a guiding principle in contemporary product and service development, policy planning, and community engagement. Everybody can be a design thinker or visionary, much like a professional designer. The design thinking process is typically described in five steps, represented linearly and practised using 3M post-it notes. However, it has been noted that there is a significant lack of empirical evidence supporting practical application and critical analysis within design thinking. The application of manual skills and design knowledge relies on a comprehensive understanding of an object’s purpose, usability, and aesthetic qualities. This study aims to analyse a hands-on design approach that fosters design thinking without reliance on 3M Post-it notes. This theoretical study examines multidisciplinary research to uncover insights into the human cognitive processes involved in design practice. The handling and crafting of objects levy the anticipation of action sequences and the prediction of sensory feedback, processes closely associated with the design thinking phases of empathizing, defining, and prototyping. The capacity to envision and plan actions prior to execution, referred to as the ‘mental hands’ concept, has been instrumental in the development of advanced cognitive skills, including goal-oriented planning, imagination, and conscious reasoning. An understanding of human skills uncovers the interconnections between fundamental sensorimotor processes and higher-order cognitive functions, including language, social interaction, and emotional regulation. These processes are intricately intertwined, facilitating both manual dexterity and cognitive abilities.

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